“We do not, as a people, suffer from lack of criticism, but we do suffer from the lack of impartial and intelligent criticism.”

Century, February 1890

“Wise laws and fearless and upright administration of the laws can give the opportunity for such prosperity as we see about us. But that is all that they can do. When the conditions have been created which make prosperity possible, then each individual man must achieve it for himself by his own energy and thrift and business intelligence.”

Providence, Rhode Island, August 23, 1902

“The worst of all fears is the fear of living.”

An Autobiography, 1913

“The power of the journalist is great, but he is entitled to neither respect nor admiration because of that power unless it is used right.”

Speech at the Sorbonne, April 23, 1910

“We stand against all tyranny, by the few or by the many.”

Speech in New York City, May 12, 1900

“Honesty is not so much a credit as an absolute prerequisite to efficient service to the public.”

Outlook, May 12, 1900

“All who under fire join in the exhausting and perilous labor which brings victory.  These are the real heroes.  These are the men who do the one great and indispensable task which entitles them forever to be honored by all true Americans.”

The Great Adventure, 1918

“The genuine reformer should realize that the cause he champions is especially jeopardized by the mock reformer who does what he can to make reform a laughing-stock among decent men.”

Century, June 1900

“We must act with justice and broad generosity and charity toward one another and toward all men if we are to make this Republic what it must and shall be made.”

New York City, February 12, 1913

“The man shows little wisdom and a low sense of duty who fails to see that love of country is one of the elemental virtues.”

Forum, April 1894

“True liberty shows itself to best advantage in protecting the rights of others, and especially of minorities.”

Oxford University, England, June 7, 1910

“Every leader of a great reform has to contend, on the one hand, with the open, avowed enemies of the reform, and on the other hand, with its extreme advocates, who wish the impossible, and who join hands with their extreme opponents to defeat the rational friends of the reform.”

Churchman, March 17, 1900